I first came across this disturbing article, “Sindh’s Stolen Brides“ several months ago but forgot to post it.
I read it again today…with a mixture of dismay, anger and helplessness…
Is anyone listening to the plight of these poor families? Where are our BJP friends? Why dont they raise this in Parliament? and Vishwa Hindu Parishad? Surely this is a serious matter? or do Hindus in Pakistan matter less than Hindus in India? How about Arundhati Roy? better still Amnesty International? Anyone?
The article , written by Mariana Baabar delves into how Hindus in Sindh, especially girls, are forced into Islam. Some excerpts :
- Hindus constitute about 2.5 per cent, or 26 lakh, of Pakistan’s population.
- Though sprinkled all over Pakistan, 95 per cent of Hindus are in Sindh.
- Only Tharparkar district in Sindh has Hindus in majority: 51 per cent.
“…I’m travelling in interior Sindh to verify specifically the reported widespread menace of abduction of Hindu girls, their forcible conversion to Islam and betrothal to Muslim men. My first port of call is the district court of Mirpur Khas. I promptly mingle among the crowd waiting for the court’s decision on a kidnap-and-conversion case. Different voices narrate contradictory stories. I am befuddled for the moment.…
A 13-year-old choosing to convert and marry? A 13-year-old testifying in the court, without her family by her side?…
Standing next to me is Kanjee Rano Bheel. He works for an NGO in the education sector; volunteers for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) as well. “In just two hours Mashu was converted and married,” Kanjee says incredulously.
Disappointment and helpless rage fleet across his face. “In Darul Aman the girls are kept away from parents and pressured into issuing statements favourable to the abductors. They tame stubborn girls through death threats.”
…In Mirpur Khas, truth resembles the mirage of the surrounding Thar desert, teasing and tormenting me as I drive from Karachi into interior Sindh…Wherever I go, and whoever I meet, in disconsolate voices the Hindus talk about ‘missing girls’; their stories resemble Mashu’s—the theme of abduction, conversion, often followed by marriage, is common to most narrations. The girls then appear in courts to issue statements declaring their conversion was voluntary. All links to the natal family and the community are severed; they are lost to the family forever.
On January 4, 2005, Marvi, 18, and Hemi, 16, were kidnapped from Kunri village in Umerkot district; three months later, on March 3, 14-year-old Raji was abducted from Aslam Town Jhuddo, Mirpur Khas. The script in their cases was similar to Mashu’s.
…Rehman told Outlook that the HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) has, between Jan 2000 to Dec 2005, documented 50 cases involving conversion of Hindu girls to Islam. Its investigations too endorse what I had found in interior Sindh. In many cases where it was claimed the girls had eloped with their Muslim partners, the HRCP found that most were, in fact, abducted, forcibly married to Muslim men or sold to them.
…Nuzzhat Shirin, who works for the Lahore-based ngp Aurat Foundation, understands why the girls don’t reveal their plight at the time they are presented in court. “When a Hindu is forced to become Muslim, such a ruckus is made that if the young kidnapped girl appears in court, the fanatics yell, scream, throw rose petals in the air and follow the youth into the building so that she’s intimidated and can’t speak,” Shirin explains. Social stigma arising from the loss of virginity, and the consequent difficulty of finding a groom, prompt these women to accept their misfortune—and hope for the best. …
Human rights activists are perturbed by the erosion of minority rights, particularly the alarming frequency with which cases of forcible conversion of Hindu girls are surfacing. Ansar Buney, chairman of the Ansar Buney Welfare Trust, is dismayed: “It’s heart-rending to see forced conversion of Hindus to Islam, since the Pakistan that Jinnah had envisioned granted absolute religious freedom to the minorities.” He then asks, “Have you ever heard of an Indian Muslim girl being forced to embrace Hinduism?”
Human rights activist Hina Jillani says Hindus and Christians in Pakistan are looked down upon. “That is why they have to take up inferior jobs; their chances of rising in any field is low,” she told Outlook.”
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I would encourage everyone to read the article in full. The story needs to be retold and disseminated widely….this would be just a small step in trying to help these poor girls…and if anyone has any ideas of what else we can do, please email me at jai.dharmaATgmail.com
Filed under: Conversions, Missionaries in India, Current Affairs, India & Its Neighbours, Post Independence History, Women in Hinduism & India
I’m lost for words after reading this article. But do u really feel anything can be done to help these girls keeping in mind that the country they are in is equally bad towards the women in general? Unless this issue of forceful conversions of hindu girls is brought into light on larger scale (through media probably) i don’t think the condition can improve. I on my part can forward this article to as many people as i can. I think a documentary should be made on this issue and telecasted in on all possible channels.
Now surley some muslim-lover will come up with a theory that equal number of Muslim girls ( if not more ) are also abducted by Hindus in India ! Many will try to prove that islam actually respects women. But won’ be, because islam does not.
Mohammed openly expressed his contempt for women on several occassions. He ordered men to ‘discipline’ them severly ( whatever that means ). He married a six year old child ! ( his fans try to save his face by telling you that ‘okay, but remember he did not lay her until she was nine…’. What a logic ! ) On the context of marrying a woman far younger than him itself, the oft-said defence of the faithful is : he also married a far older women in the beginning !
Using ‘kafir’ women for demographic benefits is an established weapon of islam, a part of Jehad. Islamic countries apart, even in Indian towns they behave in this way. In advanced countries like UK the mulla, even the common muslims openly encourage their boys to ‘marry’ Hindu and Sikh girls. It has been noticed that dinars come all they way from Saudi Arabia to encourage and reward such acts ! Many Hindu and Sikh girls are crying tears of blood and telling the others not to repeat the mistake. Because it is one way street, one can go inside Islam but cannot come out live, she will spent the rest of life working in a kitchen cooking stinking halal meat and producing a whole new team of suicide-bombers !
Mohammed clearly sanctioned such kidnappings, on one of the numerous occasions when a group of his fans snatched a non-muslim woman and asked for his advice on if they could fuck her, Mohammed tactically warned them to have patience, his reason : it will be difficult to get ransom out a deflowered woman !
I agree with Mr. Jagmohan Singh
Not only muslim-lovers also some fake seculars will come up. They must understand that; bringing up the issues in light or understanding people’s suffering is not to be meant as suggestion to fight back and get the things done by increasing rift among two religions. But it is to be for awerness and making sure not to make mistake in understanding people’s mind around us. In return, it can help us in saving innocent lives of both the sides.
Jai Hind
If you thought forced conversions of Hindu girls happened only in Pakistan, think again…
Read this post: http://hindudharma.wordpress.com/2007/02/23/hindu-girls-targeted-for-islam/ and in particular, this harrowing story: http://www.hinduvoice.co.uk/Issues/2/Silence.htm
Muslims have always been loyal to their religion and never to their country of birth.
I do not understand why do they want to migrate to US,UK,Canada or anywhere, when they still want to live in middle age.Muslims should be banned to migrate anywhere unless they prove their secular credentials.
I have met a lot of muslims who prima facie look very educated,very modern but as soon as the conversation turns to religion,they will start telling you in what way Islam is better than other faiths.Well,They can go and throw themselves in a pond with their faith.Muslims themselves are doing the biggest disservice to their religion.
In India why should Hindu live in fear of Muslims.I am not saying that they should asked to leave.But there should be no special status to them.Let them live like a minority and ensure that they never become a majority(what they are already trying to do).
And Hindus do not have to go out of their way to accommodate them in any way as this is not done anywhere. All the bloody pseudo-secularists who cry a lot over alleged mistreatment of muslims should better send their daughters to Pakistan or other muslim country to be converted to Islam and migrate themselves also as these are more dangerous to India than Muslims fundamentalists.
Why Arundhati Roy and others never raise a their voice when there is so much atrocities on Hindus by Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh and now even in UK.
India is predominantly Hindu and should remain one forever.We can tolerate some minorities provided they are ready to live by the rule which Hindus live.(as Hindus are also forced to live by the rules of Muslim countries) and it would be a great service to India if we can just remove the word Secular from our minds and dictionary.
Well said Raja.
well done raja,if there was more pople like you this world would be a safer place.